Query for non-American people

[70/30]

But you don't agree with anything I say. I wonder who is the prototype for the "Southern Republican Zealot".

 

[Flagg]

Call me cynical but that Democrat chap who died in the plane crash was pretty crucial in the grand scheme of things. Not only did his death tip the balance to the Republicans but it also tips the balance on the war in Iraq - I heard that he was the only one to vote against military action against Iraq (from either party). His death now points to a 100% support for war.

Sorry I think I am about to sneeze ........ aaaarrrrrrggghhhpoliticalassasinationccchhhheeeww!!!

Killer Muffin - I'm glad to see you are interested in all the really important elements of politics like drinkin' and shootin'

In terms of the UK. Tony Blair is undoubtedly the most successful prime minister the country has ever seen and his chancellor has also a remarkable economic record.

In theory, if Blair was to drop dead then John Prescott would take over though in practive I doubt he would be given any power. He was only made deputy to pacify him - he is one of the most significant figures of Old Labour and could create a lot of noise if he felt he was being muscled out. The leadership race between Brown and Blair after John Smith's early demise was much closer than people realise. Mandelson had a large part to play in tipping the balance towards Blair. Brown is and always has been a serious contender for the leadership. Shortly after John Smith's funeral the two made a pact - that Blair would take the leadership but that Brown would always be his chancellor and that after two terms the leadership would be passed on to him. The problem is - I don't think Blair will keep to the pact - he has become far too successful to give it all up now.

In terms of in the future , a rising star within New Labour is the young Harvard-educated David Lammy (MP for Tottenham). I sincerely believe that he will be the UK's first black prime minister one day - one can only hope.

 

[Gord]

If Blair does step down at the next election - a big if - some say he has his eyes for a top Europe job, then I think that Brown would have his term as leader- regardless of Bluespokes comment re the West Lothian question and his Scots credentials - he would get in. Mainly because the guy is very talented and it is generally accepted that he is the best Chancellor ( post war ) that this country has ever had .

The thing is there is no opposition in the UK at the moment. The Tories are fucked and only rely on a core vote which is slowly dying off anyway- they have nothing to offer.

The lib dem s are just too wishy washy and have another Scot as their leader anyway - Kennedy ( no not from that family !! )

Labour could put Hanns as their leader and they would still get voted in at the moment

 

[Coolville]

My question is pretty simple and not meant to be insulting or offensive. Do you really care? If so, why?

Well, speaking for my neck of the woods, the US elections get just as much airtime as the elections in other countries. Okay, maybe not Tuvalu or Dagestan.

The German, French, Dutch, Swedish elections all had about the same amount of airtime this year.

If there is a bit more emphasis on these mid-terms it is due to the impending American attack on Iraq.

Never thought of it before, but perhaps our population is more interested in politics. Our voter turnouts hover around 80% - local as well as national and referendums.

All politics, not just american midterms.

 

[Coolville]

Call me cynical but that Democrat chap who died in the plane crash was pretty crucial in the grand scheme of things. Not only did his death tip the balance to the Republicans but it also tips the balance on the war in Iraq - I heard that he was the only one to vote against military action against Iraq (from either party). His death now points to a 100% support for war.

Sorry I think I am about to sneeze ........ aaaarrrrrrggghhhpoliticalassasinationccchhhheeeww!!!

Where's Ozzie Don with the 'proof' that he was assisinated?

 

[Flagg]

If Blair does step down at the next election - a big if - some say he has his eyes for a top Europe job

I would have agreed with you there about a year ago but now I am not so sure. He has done too little to empower Europe and has simply not been open enough on Europe in the UK. Also he has alienated his european colleagues through his decision to back the US on the 'War on Terror' (makes me laugh everytime I hear that expression - what's the sequel going to be called? 'Return of the Killer Tomatoes')

If he really wanted to create and become the President of Europe he would be pushing the european agenda much harder at home and would be less quick to honour our 'special relationship' with the US. WTC would have been a great platform on which to tighten relations in the EU and to really start on the road of political, economic and military unification. But instead he has chosen to stand by Bush's side. I guess he can't resist the power.

September 11 could have had so many positive consequences but alas it wasn't to be ...

 

[bluespoke]

If Blair does step down at the next election - a big if - some say he has his eyes for a top Europe job, then I think that Brown would have his term as leader- regardless of Bluespokes comment re the West Lothian question and his Scots credentials - he would get in. Mainly because the guy is very talented and it is generally accepted that he is the best Chancellor ( post war ) that this country has ever had .

The thing is there is no opposition in the UK at the moment. The Tories are fucked and only rely on a core vote which is slowly dying off anyway- they have nothing to offer.

The lib dem s are just too wishy washy and have another Scot as their leader anyway - Kennedy ( no not from that family !! )

Labour could put Hanns as their leader and they would still get voted in at the moment

I'd like to be proved wrong, as you say Brown is a very talented politician. I just think there are too many rumblings about the number of Scots in power (Blair, Brown, Darling, Reid et al) for the MPs to vote for another Scot. I know that the party have an electoral college but a large portion of the votes go to the MPs. Still, only time will tell.

And, if they did put Hanns up as a candidate I would vote anyway but Labour in that instance! I might even vote Tory...................... !

 

[Flagg]

I might even vote Tory...................... !

These words should not even be ushered in jest my friend.

{{shudder}}

 

[Gord]

I would have agreed with you there about a year ago but now I am not so sure. He has done too little to empower Europe and has simply not been open enough on Europe in the UK. Also he has alienated his european colleagues through his decision to back the US on the 'War on Terror' (makes me laugh everytime I hear that expression - what's the sequel going to be called? 'Return of the Killer Tomatoes')

If he really wanted to create and become the President of Europe he would be pushing the european agenda much harder at home and would be less quick to honour our 'special relationship' with the US. WTC would have been a great platform on which to tighten relations in the EU and to really start on the road of political, economic and military unification. But instead he has chosen to stand by Bush's side. I guess he can't resist the power.

September 11 could have had so many positive consequences but alas it wasn't to be ...

Just wait till the next Queens speech - there is going to be a little bit on the Euro etc. Also amongst the " in crowd" in Europe Tony is very popular - he is very pro Europe and has a lot of cronies in place

I think we will for sure see the referendum on the Euro this term and Tony will make that his legacy

He is tired of the shit of day to day politics - and the shit his family takes - I think he would prefer the anonymity of Euro politics and would probably do well

I would still say the odds are he will go but slim odds

 

[Coolville]

Just wait till the next Queens speech - there is going to be a little bit on the Euro etc.

How do you KNOW that?!

Are you the new butler?

a referendum on the euro could never gain a Yes vote in the UK. I'll surprised if he bothers trying.
Even though he kind of has to.
The eurosceptics in the UK who have put the Danes on a pedestal for our 'no' votes will be very disappointed when we vote, once again, next year.
65% of Danes will say yes. 13 points higher than any previous poll.
Bring the Euro home, baby!

 

[Flagg]

Ah the Queen's Speech - that reminds me of an even more important political issue ... The fact that I want to drink booze till I fall over regardless of what the time is!

Apparently they are going to do something about our archaic licensing laws. Though this rumour does come and go quite regularly so I guess we should wait and see.

 

[bluespoke]

These words should not even be ushered in jest my friend.

{{shudder}}

It's perfectly safe. By the time of the next election they will not exist!

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

... though I do watch the shifting power in England's Parliament. I don't understand it (I haven't figured out the left from the right just yet)

The Conservatives (Blue) are the right wing party.

New Labour (Red) ditched its left wing principles and became a right wing party.

We now have a choice between Red right wing (current) or the alternative Blue right wing (a shambles of opposition headed by some IDS which makes him sound either like a contraceptive device or a sexually trasmitted disease or a bowel complaint)

In other words: the left left the left and so there is no left left.

I trust that is clear enough for you.

 

[Gord]

How do you KNOW that?!

Are you the new butler?

a referendum on the euro could never gain a Yes vote in the UK. I'll surprised if he bothers trying.
Even though he kind of has to.
The eurosceptics in the UK who have put the Danes on a pedestal for our 'no' votes will be very disappointed when we vote, once again, next year.
65% of Danes will say yes. 13 points higher than any previous poll.
Bring the Euro home, baby!

Trust me on that one there will be

and the referendum is not cut and dried - a lot of citizens have now travelled to Europe and used the Euro and seen how easy it is - and believe me you will see a PR campaign like nothing else to push it through

and it all depends on the question in the actuall referendum

sort of lilke

Do you want to have a strong currency like our partners and be a bit richer --------- tick YES

Or would you rather be poor vote with the Tories - AGAIN ( remember the last time )

He will turn it into a Labour / Tory thing

 

[bluespoke]

Ah the Queen's Speech - that reminds me of an even more important political issue ... The fact that I want to drink booze till I fall over regardless of what the time is!

Apparently they are going to do something about our archaic licensing laws. Though this rumour does come and go quite regularly so I guess we should wait and see.

Yep, we will be able to get pissed 24 hours a day, seven days a week ( no change for p_p man!) and if we drop our chewing gum in the street the refuse collector will issue an on the spot fine.

I love it when they tackle the really important issues. While they are at it they could ban those fucking fireworks! My dog nearly had a nervous breakdown last night and next door's hasn't stopped yapping yet.

 

[Rex1960]

...a lot of citizens have now travelled to Europe and used the Euro and seen how easy it is...

Just a side aspect, but do you think the Eurotunnel has a little effect here ?

 

[Coolville]

Trust me on that one there will be

and the referendum is not cut and dried - a lot of citizens have now travelled to Europe and used the Euro and seen how easy it is - and believe me you will see a PR campaign like nothing else to push it through

and it all depends on the question in the actuall referendum

sort of lilke

Do you want to have a strong currency like our partners and be a bit richer --------- tick YES

Or would you rather be poor vote with the Tories - AGAIN ( remember the last time )

He will turn it into a Labour / Tory thing

LOL.
Yeah, mate, the wording. Democracy so often hangs on the whims of clever PR men.

And I've read that Brits who have used the Euro are now more positive about it. But even that sounds silly.
"Ethel and I went to Benidorm and then popped into Portugal... and didn't even need to change currency! We'll be voting yes! It's so convienent!"

But hey, whatever it takes.

The Danish vote went 'no' due to, statistically, the lower-educated working class who bought into the right-wing's fear-mongering.

The rest of us shrugged, changed our accounts to Euro accounts and are waiting patiently for the next decisive vote. And the Swedes will be voting yes in their next referendum by all accounts. Hopefully that will put pressure on UK

 

[Flagg]

Re: Re: Query for non-American people

New Labour (Red) ditched its left wing principles and became a right wing party.

Simply not true, though having had this argument with most of my Old Labour friends about a zillion times, I know from bitter experience that you probably won't be swayed.

What you can't deny though is that if you were to drop New Labour into the US political spectrum, it would be undeniably a left wing party. (In fact its members would probably be burned at the stake for their communist tendancies)

 

[Coolville]

Just a side aspect, but do you think the Eurotunnel has a little effect here ?

Again, the insanely simple "It's so convienent" aspect of international politics. It no doubt has influenced it. On the days the trains actually run, anyway.

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Re: Re: Re: Query for non-American people

What you can't deny though is that if you were to drop New Labour into the US political spectrum, it would be undeniably a left wing party. (In fact its members would probably be burned at the stake for their communist tendancies)

You could probably claim the same of the Conservatives.

 

[bluespoke]

Again, the insanely simple "It's so convienent" aspect of international politics. It no doubt has influenced it. On the days the trains actually run, anyway.

Those days when there is no salt on the French overhead cables!

 

[Gord]

Just a side aspect, but do you think the Eurotunnel has a little effect here ?

Not really - as most of us use the tunnel just to go to Calais to buy cheap wine, beer and fags - and then we just go to Tescos and use our switch cards

We have always gone to France and Spain on hols as a nation - and I think it is that - though if we go by the Tunnel or ferry doesnt seem to matter

 

[Flagg]

You could probably claim the same of the Conservatives.

Well it is an interesting point. When we try to explain our politics to americans, the common analogy is

Labour = Democrats
Tory = Republicans

Though in truth, the tories are probably on a par with the democrats and Labour is far left wing.

 

[Draco]

America's economy effects the global economy. If Wall Street is down, the global markets filter down accordingly. Take 9-11 for example. The NZ economy exports a lot of its produce to the US, if there is political instabilty there, we feel it in our back pockets here. Higher commodities prices, gasoline, etc.

My 0.02 cents worth...with the exchange rate is really worth 0.009564 cents...on todays market listing.

 

[SINthysist]

"The effect," was the Clinton's themselves...

The illusion that America loved them and that THEY are the party. The corruption, obstruction, and trailer-park manners,

That was the effect!